This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Getting Kids Ready for School!

With Alameda Unified regular public schools starting the week after next, these reminders may help get your family back in the swing of things.

The aroma of No. 2 pencils is in the air again. It must be back-to-school time.

Shifting gears from summer-frolicking to fall-studying is best done with some planning.

Whether you have a returning student or a child just starting school, these tips may help you and your kids get into the groove:

Find out what's happening in Alamedawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  1. Get the lay of the land. Visit the school while it's still quiet. Help familiarize your child with new surroundings before the first chaotic days by walking around, trying out routes they will take daily and letting them play on the play structures if possible.
  2. Talk about what to expect, listening for fears and anxieties you may want to discuss. See if your child’s favorite TV character has a back-to-school episode like The Berenstain Bears and watch it together to talk about what happens at school. Read going-to-school stories. A great story for first time students (and parents) is The Kissing Hand.
  3. Start fresh. If you haven’t scheduled it yet, go and get the kids a haircut. Don’t forget to schedule an appointment for yourself once school is in session.
  4. Send them off with something familiar. Talk with your kids about what favorite foods they would like in their school lunches, and incorporate them into your shopping list.
  5. Prepare your provisions. Visit the bulk stores for staples like napkins, bags, milk/juice boxes, etc.
  6. Involve the kids. Create a daily list with your kids that they can check off to reinforce morning-time responsibilities. This can also keep you forgetting items before you hit the carpool lane. 
  7. Remove the guesswork and indecision. Consider buying a closet organizer that allows you to pre-select a school outfit for each day of the week and have it ready and waiting before the week begins. Place play clothes for after school in each slot, which will help keep school clothes in good condition longer.
  8. Create a “launching pad” in your home for each child. Make it a habit to put all needed items to get out the door in a set location to be easily grabbed on the way out the door. This is a good tip for parents as well. Some parents also find keeping items like school shoes in the car are a good way to avoid the delay of looking for critical lost items in the morning.
  9. Make the day special. Use a special plate, or make a traditional first-day-of-school breakfast. Tuck notes in your child's backpack or lunch box. Take a picture in the same spot each year to see how your children are growing and changing. 
  10. Stay strong and enjoy the moment. Make sure that no matter your own emotions about the day, you hold it together. Your kids will take their cues from you. Keep up a positive and confident attitude as you guide your kids through their first school days. Wait to have a cry (or a shout of jubilation) until you are back in your car. And, don’t forget the dark sunglasses and tissues.
We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?